Block printing machine



July 14, 1931. 1 c. F HuMPHR Y BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE s Shets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25 192s INVENTOR July 14, 1931. c. F. HUMPHREYS BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR July 14, 1931-. c. E. HUQ HEYS 1,814,160

BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE I Filed July 23. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 llllllllllIllllllllllllilllllllllllfllllllWNW Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE CHARLES Fr. -I-IUMPHREYS, 0F LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ARMSTRONG- GDRK COMPANY, 6F PE'ITSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 01 PENNSYL- VANIA BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE Application filed July 23,

I This invention relates to the printing of lioor coverings and the like, and more particul'ar ly to block printing machines.

p In the patent to William Penn Brinton, No. 1,756,177 dated April 29, 1930-, there is disclosed a. block type printing machine wherein at least some of the vertically reciprocable printing heads have a plurality of individual printing blocks thereon, any one of which. may be projected into or held out of printing position with reference to the other blocks on the same head. The advantage of such an arrangement resides in the fact that much more intricate patterns can be printed inamachine having a limited number of heads, or a greater variety of color in the patterns can be secured.

In such applicationit is proposed that the printing head's may have the printing surface thereof divided either transversely or longitudinally or both ways, and it is pointed out in said application that where the head is divided transversely, the color carriage may be, likewise divided transversely in ord'er to secure an even greater range of color variation.

According to the presentinvention, I propose to provide a color carriage which is divided longitudinally instead of transversely whereby different colors maybe applied to different longitudinal areas of the printing surface, whereby even greater variety in the color combinations may be printed. Such an arrangement is particularly applicable for use in combination with a printing head whose printing surface is segregated or divided longitudinally into a plurality of different printing sections.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings which show one embodiment of my invention and in which Figure 1 represents a transverse section through a portion of a block printing machine, the bed of the machine being shown in section "but the printing head being shown in elevation; I V

Figure 2 is a more or less diagrammatic view showing an end elevation of the color carriage, the operating mechanism for the 1928. Serial No. 294,743.

printing heads being omitted and the printing blocks being diagrammatically indicated;

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the color carriage shown in Figure 2 with part of the color carriage being shown in section;

Figure 4 is a detail view representing a longitudinalvertical section in the plane of line 1VIV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section in the plane of line VV of Figure 4:;

Figure 6 is a diagram of one system for electrically controlling the operation of the color applying rolls, and r V Figure 7 is a diagram of a head and its color box divided both longitudinally and transversely.

It will be understood that the arrangement shown in the drawings is merely illustrative of one embodiment of my invention and that the invention is notlimited to the particular apparatus herein disclosed.

In the drawings, 2 designates the frame of a block printing machine. The frame carries a bed 3 on which the linoleum or other material to be printed upon is supported and 5 which is designated 4. The material 4 is moved along by means of a conveyor 5 at each side of the bed in accordance with the usual practice.

Extending along each side of the bed is a the color carriages are connected together for movement in unison in accordance With the present standard practice.

One of the printing heads is designated 11, and comprises a main frame formed of I- beams 12 carried on vertically reciprocable side posts 13. The printing blocks are supported on the under side of this frame. In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, there is disclosed a plurality of relatively small individually movable printing blocks 14. These are'suspended from the frame by means of posts 15. Suitable means are provided for raising and lowering the blocks 14 with reference to the frame 11 of the head. This relative movement of the blocks 14; is relatively .of the machine at 22.

small as compared with the. reciprocating movement of the head as an entire unit. In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, cams 16 operating against followers 17 on the posts 15 serve to depress the blocks 14, while springs 18 are provided for raising the blocks. In Figure 1 one of the blocks is shown depressed and the other is shown in the raised or inoperative position. In Figure 1 I have disclosed the block as being divided transversely of the length of the head. It is also divided longitudinally, as shown in Figure 2.

The cams 16 are carried on a cam shaft 19. This cam shaft is operated from a driving mechanism 20 operated through the reciprocation of the head. The particular driving mechanism shown in Figure 1 is similar to that disclosed in the copending application of Harry A. I Vebster, Ser. No. 278,811, filed May 18, 1928. This mechanism includes a link 21 having one end secured to the frame The other end of the link 21 operates a hook 23 which engages pins 24 on a disk 25, this hook being effective upon movement of the head in one direction only, riding past the pins 24 with reciprocation of the head in its other direction. The disk 25 is on a shaft 26. On the shaft 26 is a gear 27 meshing with a pinion 28 on the shaft 19. A ratchet 29 prevents reverse movement of the shaft 26. It will be understood, however, that any-other suitable mechanism for operating the cams 16 may be substituted for that shown.

The color carriage 8 is in the-form of a trough having a longitudinal partition 30 therein separating the trough into two separate compartments 31 and 31". In each trough is a longitudinally extending roll 32 and 32 The rolls 32 and 32 are each carried on a. shaft 32. The ends of the shafts 32 project through slots 33 (see Figure in the ends of their respective troughs. The outer ends of the shafts 32 pass through a lever 34 (see Figures 2 and 3), which lever is pivotally supported at its middle on the end of the color box on a pin or shaft 35. On the outer end of each of the shafts 32 is a gear wheel 36. The gear wheels 36 mesh with other gear wheels 37 located at the ends of the flanged rollers 9,-these gear wheels 37 being adapted to engage the rack 7. When the carriage reciprocates from oneside of the head to the other, as it does inthe normal operation of machines of this nature, the gear wheels 37 rotate the gear wheels 36 to revolve the paint applying rollers 32 and 32 The lever 34 carries packing elements 38 at each end thereof covering the slots 33. Each end of the lever also carries a lateral extension 39 which overhangs the end of the trough and on which is a depending portion 40 through which the roll shaft 32 passes, and which also carries a packing element 41 for sealingthe slot 33. Each of the elements 40 also supports the ends of the doctor blades 42.

At the center of the lever 34 is a depending arm43 (see Figure 2) which preferably terminates in a point 43. Secured to the bottom of the carriage at the end thereof is a receptacle 44 in which are one or more springs 45, these springs supporting a detent plate 46 having two notches 47 therein. This arrangement provides a yieldable detent by means of which the lever 34 may be tilted from one position to another and held in the position to which it is moved. By rocking the lever 34 in this way,.one of the rollers 32 or 32 is moved into a plane above the other so that when the color carriage passes under the printing head only one ofthe rollers will apply paint to the printing surface of the head. Inasmuch as the rollers are very closely adjusted, it is necessary that the rocking movement be only very slight. Probably three thirty-seconds of an inch is all the tarvel which need be provided for the lever 34.

One arrangement for tipping the rollers is best shown in Figures 3 and 4. Carried on an upright 48 on the machine frame and at one side of such upright is a lever 49 pivotally supported at 49 and having a bifurcated end 49 The other end of the lever is pivotally connected at 49 to a link 50 which connects. the armatures 50 and 50 of upper and lower solenoids 51.

Opposed springs 52 are alsoconnected to the lever 49 to hold it in a normal neutral position, while stops 53 limit the amount of a movement.

the shaft 32 will pass through it. If the lower end 49 down and thereby effect a reversal in the positions of the rolls.

- The detent'43 serves to holdthe tilting frame in either of its two operative positions.

.If desired,..this mechanism for tilting the rolls may be located adjacent each limit of travel of the carriage, and in order to have sufiicientroom, these operating, units may be staggered, alternate units being on the same side of the machine.

The operation of the units may be controlled from the rug tripper which controls the movement of the individual printing block sections on the head as well as the vertical movement of the entire head. The tilting of the rolls is synchronizedwith the operation of'the head so that when the carriage starts to move under the printing head those blocks of the printing head which are to receive paint will be operated to the proper position.

In figure 2 I have shown the head as being divided longitudinally into relatively movable blocks 14 and 14 The paint carriage is adapted to be reciprocated back and forth under this divided head. In Figure 2 the roll 32 is shown in elevated position and the block 14 is shown depressed. Thus when the carriage moves to the left, as viewed in this Figure, the roll 3% will apply paint to the printing surface 14 This operation may continue as long as the tilting frame for the rolls remainsin the position shown in Figure 2 and as long as the printing block 143 is depressed.

By tilting the roll frame in the opposite direction and reversingblocks 14 and 14- the roll 32* will apply paint to the printing surface 1'4. Instead of tilting the roll frame relatively to the trough, it is of course, practical to tilt the entire trough with the rolls. It is, of course, contemplated that the trough 3-1 will contain a paint of a different color or shade from the paint contained in 31 so that the sections 14 and 14 will apply dif ferent colors or shades to the material being printed upon. Heretoforeit has been possible to apply only one color longitudinally of the printing surface whereas the present invention permits different longitudinal sections to receive different colors.

Where the printing head has the printing surface divided both longitudinally and transversely the invention permits of a wide variety of patterns in many different colors.

The invention thus lends itself to a new method in the printing of floor coverings.

.It allows for the printing of different colors ata given printing station at successive operations of the printing head whereas heretofore the same colors were always applied at the same stations. .I am aware that it has been proposed to divide the paint box .tran-s versely in order that two different colors may be simultaneously.applied at the same station, but the present invention differs in that it allows for the application :of one :color on one printing movement of the head and another'color upon the next succeeding printing movement of the head. It is, of course, contemplated with the present invention that the paint box be divided transversely where desired as well as longitudinallyin order to increase the number of colors which can be applied to a single head. Such arrangement is shown in Figure 7 wherein the head carries four printing blocks 14m and the color box 8m is similarly divided. Each paint roll 32m is arranged as shown. For-clearness of illustration the doctor blades, packings, etc, arenot shown.

It is necessary that a nice adjustment be maintained between the position of the paint applying roller and the surface of the print ing block. Some operators maintain that the paint applying roll should not touch the printing block at all but should only move in such close proximity to the under surface of the printing block that a thin film of paint will be applied to the printing surface of the block without the block actually touching the roll. Other operators maintain that the roll These portions are bearing portions and are adapted to roll against flat surfaces 56 (see Fig. on the under surface of the printing block. The cooperating surfaces 55 and 56 are of just the right height to hold the main surface of the inking roll in the proper relation to the printing surface of the blocks whereby an even film of paint will always be deposited on the printing surfaces. By reason of the fact that the printing block will actually bear against the end of the inking roll duringthe step of applying paint to the printing surface, the adjustment need be less accurate than where the block is suspended a certain distance above the roll but has no actual contact with the roll.

With this construction, the amount of contact or the spacing between the rolland the printing surface can be kept constant. This arrangement is more fully disclosed and claimed in application of Alfred Jones, Serial 'No. 450,397 filed May 7, 1930.

Instead of having a raised bearing surface on both the roll and the block, it is of course, practical to make the entire bearing surface on either the blockior the roll, the idea being merely to have certain contacting areas onthe block and the roll which are not inking or printing surfaces and by means of which an accurate printing surface can be absolutely .maintained. 7

My invention further contemplates an arrangement wherein the tilting of the paint rolls is synchronized with the operation of the rest of the machine whereby the tilting will take place in the proper sequence for securing a desired result. In the operation of the divided printing head, as shown in Fig- .ure .1, the individual block sections 1a are relation between the roll and the depressed after the head has printed and during the upward movement of the head. hen the head reaches the uppermost limit of its movement the blocks which are to print on the next succeeding dip of the head are pressed down below the level of the blocks which are not to print, as is clearly shown in Figure 1. On one of the printing block sections in Figure 1 there is shown a contact i 60. On the next adjacent printing block section is a similar contact These contacts are arranged for cooperation with contacts 61 and 61 on the frame of the printing head.

In the diagram shown in Figure 6 the contacts 60 and 60 are connected to one side of a source of electric current 62 through a wire 63. The other side of the source of current connects through wire 64 with one side of each of the electromagnets 51. The upper electromagnet 5i has its other side connected through wire 65 with the contact 61. The other side of the electromagnet is connected through wire 66 with the contact 61.

When the block carrying the contact 60 drops to printing position the circuit is closed between contacts 60 and 61 through the upper magnet coil 51 to tilt the end 49 of the lever a9 down. When the block which carries the contact 60 lowers to printing position, a circuit is closed through the lower magnet coil 51 to rock the lever in the reverse direction.

Since the block sections are depressed to operative position when theprinting head is at the uppermost limit of its movementand since the paint carriage at the upper limit of movement of the head is located to one side of the head, it will be seen that the tilting of the paint rollers is effected before the carriage starts to travel under the head, and the operation is properly synchronized with the movement of the individual printing block sections.

While I have specifically shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that the invention is not confined to the particular arrangements herein disclosed but may be otherwise embodied.

I claim:

1. The method of printing floor coverings in a block printing machine having printing heads, which comprises the step of applying one character of coating material to one area of the printing block on a head and applying a coating material of another character to another area thereof in the same transverse portion of the block, the different coating materials being applied on different operations of the printing head.

2. The method of printing floor coverings in a block type printing machine, which comprises the step of applying coating material of one color to a given area of the printing block upon one printing operation of the block and applying coating material of another color to another area of the block lying transversely of the first-mentioned area upon a succeeding operation of the printing block.

3. In the method of operating block printing machines, the step of passing a successive series of color boxes under the block, selectively applying the desired color to a given printing area of the block, and applying a different color to a different area lying transversely of the first-mentioned area on a succeeding passage of the boxes under the same head.

4:. In a block printing machine, a paint carriage having a longitudinally divided paint trough with a paint applying roll in each trough.

5. In a block printing machine, a printing head, a color carriage reciprocable back and forth under the head and divided longitudinally at right angles to the direction of its travel into separate compartments, a paint applying roll in each compartment, and means for selectively moving either of the rolls into paint applying position.

6. The combination with a printing head having a plurality of individually operable printing surfaces thereon, of a longitudinally divided color box reciprocable beneath the head, and means for transferring the color from the color box to said printing surfaces.

7. In a block printing machine, a printing head, a color carriage reciprocable beneath the head, said carriage being longitudinally divided into parallel compartments, a roll in each compartment, and means for raising and lowering the rolls into and out of operative position.

8. In a block printing machine, a printing head, a color carriage reciprocable beneath the head, said carriage being longitudinally divided into parallel compartments, a roll in each compartment, and means for raising either of the rolls into and out of operative position.

9. The combination with a printin machine having a reciprocable printing block, of a color carriage including a pair of rolls, a separate trough for each roll, and means for simultaneously raising one roll and lowering the other.

10. The combination with a printing machine having a reciprocable printing block, of a color carriage including a pair of rolls, a separate trough for each roll, means for simultaneously raising one roll and lowering the other, and a detent for yieldably holding the rolls in a position to which they are moved.

11. In a block printing machine having a printing head which is longitudinally divided into a plurality of relatively movable printing sections, of a color applying mechanism reciprocable under the head comprising a longitudinally divided carriage having two compartments therein, a roll ineach compartmentl and meansfor effecting a tilting motion of the rolls for raising one or the other into operative position. 1

12. In a block printing machine, a printing head having the printing area thereof divided longitudinally and transversely into a plurality of individually movable printing blocks, and a longitudinally divided paint carriage reciprocable beneath the head for cooperation therewith.

13. In a block printing machine, a printing head having the printing area thereof divided longitudinally and transversely into a plurality of individually movable printing blocks, and means for selectively applying different colored paints to different printing areas on the head comprising a carriage having a plurality of longitudinally extending color troughs therein with a roll in each trough and means for selectively raising a given roll into a plane where it will apply paint.

14. In a block printing machine having a vertically reciprocable printing head, paint applying means for applying paint to the printing means including a pair of rolls, a frame for tilting the rolls for raising one of said rolls and depressing the other, a detent for holding the frame against tilting, and a separate color trough for each roll.

15. In a block printing machine having a vertically reciprocable printing head, a tilt able paint applying means including two rollers for supplying paint to the printing head, one or the other of the rollers being moved to operative position by the tilting of said means, operating means for elfecting the tilting movement, and a dete'ntfor holding said means in the position to which it is tilted by said operating means.

16. In a block printing machine having a vertically reciprocable printing block with a plurality of relatively movable printing block elements thereon, a paint carriage movable back and forth under the head having two paint applying rollers thereon, means for selectively raising one roller and dropping the other whereby only one of said rollers will be operable, and an operating means effective when the carriage is at one of the limits'of its back and forth movement for so operating the rollers. V

17. In a block printing machine, the C0111. bination with a printing head having a sectional printing block provided with a plurality of relatively movable block sections, means for selectively operating the block sections into and out of printing position, said means being effective upon the upward movement of the printing head, of a divided paint box having selectively operable paint applying rollers reciprocable back and forth under the head.

18. In a block printing machine, the combination with a printing head having a sectional printing block provided with a pl-uand forth movement of the carriage for effect- 1 ing the selective operation of the rollers.

19. In a block printing machine, a vertically reciprocable printing head having a plurality of individually operable'printing blocks thereon, anda paint carriage reciprocable under the head having a plurality of selectively thereon.

"20'. In a block printing machine, a vertically reciprocable printing head having a plurality of individual block sections, each of which is selectively movable into and out of printing position, means for eifecting'the selective movement of the printing block sections, and a color carriage reciprocable beneath the head having two paint'appl-ying rollers thereon, selectively movable into and out of operative position, and means for effecting the selective operation of the rollers.

21. In a block printing machine the combination with a printing head having a. plurality of relatively movableblock sections and means for selectively operating the block sections into and out of printing position, of a paint carriage movable relatively to said printing head, the paint carriage having a plurality of selectively operable paint applying means therein, and means for synchrooperahle paint applying rollers nizing the operation of the printing blocks I with the paint applying means whereby paint applyingmeans for distributing a desired color to a desired printing block is brought into cooperative relationship with the printing block which is to apply that color.

22..In a block printing machine, a vertically reciprocable printing headhaving a plurality of individually operable printing blocks thereon, a paint carriage reciprocable under the head, having a plurality of selectively operable paint applying rollers'there- .5

011, means for operating the selectively oper able paint applying rollers, and means for synchronizing the operation of the rollers with the operation of the individual printing for selectively operating the block sections into and out of printing position, said means being effective upon the upward movement of the printing head, of a divided paint box having selectively operable paint applying rollers reciprocableback' and forth under the head, means at one end of the back and forth movement of the carriage for efi'ecting the selective operation of the rollers, and means operable by the printing block sections for effecting the selective operation of the rollers.

24. In a block printing machine, the com bination with a printing head having a sectional printing block provided with a plurality of relatively movable block sections, means for selectively operating the block sections into and out of printing position, said means being effective upon the upward move ment of the printing head, of a divided paint box having selectively operable paint applying rollers reciprocable back and forth under the head, means at one end of the back and forth movement of the carriage for effecting the selective operation of the rollers, and means for synchronizing the selective operation of the rollers with the operation ofthe printing block sections.

25. In a block printing machine, a printing head having a plurality of individually movable printing block sections thereon separately movable into and out of printing position, a color carriage reciprocable beneath the head, said carriage being longitudinally divided into parallel compartments, 2. roll in each compartment, means for raising one of the rolls into and out of operative position, and simultaneously moving the other in the reverse direction, and means for effecting a change in the position of the rolls with a change in the operative position of the printing block sections.

26. In a block printing machine, a paint carriage having a plurality of parallel troughs adapted to hold a liquid paint and extending crosswise of the machine, and paint rolls lying in the troughs and extend ing thereabove, the paint rolls being so positioned as to carry paint upwardly from their troughs and apply the same to the blocks of the printing machine.

27. The combination with a printing machine having a printing head with a plurality of relatively movable blocks thereon, of color applying means comprising rolls for applying different colors to the different block portions when the same are moved to printing position, the rolls being movable relative to the main body of the machine to bring desired rolls into a color applying plane, and means for effecting such movement.

28. The combination with a printing machine having a printing head divided at least in part longitudinally of its length so as to provide a plurality of printing blocKs, the blocks being relatively movable into or out of printing position, of separate color applying means for different block portions, the color applying means being movable into and out of the plane in which the blocks lie when ready to receive paint.

29. The method of printing floor coverings in a block printing machine having a head with relatively movable printing block portions thereon, which comprises the steps of applying one character of coatingmaterial to a printing block portion, utilizing the same for printing, and thereafter moving another printing block portion into printing. position and applying thereto a coating material of another character. I

30. The method of printing floor coverings in a block printing machine having a head with relatively movable printing block portions thereon, which comprises the steps of applying one character of coating material to a printing block portion, utilizing the same for printing, and thereafter moving another printing block portion into printing position and applying thereto a coating material of another character, the last mentioned printin block portion lying transversely of the first mentioned printing block portion.

31. In a block printing machine, a color box, a paint roller therein, the paintroller being mounted in such manner that its axis may be shifted laterally relative to the paint box, and a doctor blade movable with the roller.

In a block printing machine, a color box, a paint roller therein, the paint roller being mounted in such manner that its axis may be shifted laterally relative to the paint box, and a doctor blade movable with the roller but in substantially fixed relation therewith.

33. In a block printing machine, a reciprocating printing block and a paint-applying structure movable under the block, there being at least two paint holding compartments in the paint-applying structure, said structure including rolls for the several paint holding compartments, the rolls being tiltably supported.

34:. The combintion with a block printing machine having a reciprocating printing head, of printing blocks for the head arranged transversely of the head and lying alongside one another, said blocks being relatively movable into and out of paint-receiving position, a longitudinally divided paint box movable under the head, and means for supplying paint from selected divisions of the paint box to selected printing blocks on the head.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand.

I CHARLES F. HUMPHREYS. 

